Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing How important is Health and Wellbeing within the curriculum? How is it taught in schools? What does this involve?

What do we mean by Health and Wellbeing? Health and wellbeing includes both physical and mental health. Physical health - sleep, diet (nutrition) and exercise Mental Health - the way we think or feel about ourselves and what is going on around us, and how we cope with the stresses of life – affects our sense of wellbeing as well as our physical health

How important is it within our curriculum How important is it within our curriculum? The link between health and wellbeing and positive academic performance is well researched.

Healthy students are more alert, engaged and better able to concentrate and learn. Physical activity is associated with improved learning, concentration, better mood and behaviour as well as healthy weight. An estimated 1 in every 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem and that 75% of mental health problems in adults have roots in childhood. An increasing number of children in our schools have anxiety, depression and phobias, and a scary number of children now self- harm. Worse still, these disorders now manifest at earlier ages than ever before. Good mental and physical health is vital for learning and living a fulfilling life!

Nature or Nurture? The "nature vs nurture" debate. Is a child’s fate in terms of their learning, intelligence and physical and mental health already predetermined before they are even born? A child’s environment and genetic makeup are intertwined. There is a continuous and complex interaction between the two. Studies have shown, along with intelligence, our conscious thinking and the way we deal with a situation can, over time, result in our brain re-wiring itself so that we change the way we react subconsciously in the first place. This means our resilience (amongst many other things) is not fixed. We can build the ability to be resilient through our own positive thinking.

So who can help to build resilience and positive thinking? Whose responsibility is it to ensure a child’s physical and mental health needs are met?

Parents/Carers? Or Schools/Teachers?

BOTH! Like nature vs nurture both are intertwined. What you do at home AND what we do at school will shape how they face life now and in the future.

What does the Curriculum say? Curriculum for Excellence has an important role to play in promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people and of all of those in the educational communities to which they belong.

What are the main purposes of learning in health and wellbeing? Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for developing attitudes, skills and knowledge for living a healthy life. Schools inform choices and deepen understanding of what constitutes good healthy choices. Schools present learning opportunities that build upon family/cultural experiences and allow for critical analysis of the media, advertising and peer conformity. Schools have a responsibility to teach, model, build behaviour practices and implement curriculum requirements that support a learning environment where the connection of learning about health and wellbeing is supported by a whole school approach.

How is the Health and Wellbeing framework structured? The statements of experiences and outcomes are then structured into the following organisers:  Mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing  Planning for choices and changes  Physical education, physical activity and sport  Food and health  Substance misuse  Relationships, sexual health and parenthood.

Health and Wellbeing at Fox Covert At Fox Covert we have a whole school ethos and approach to Health and Wellbeing. Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment, building skills and resilience, and a strong sense of contentedness to school. Listening to the voice of the child and fostering healthy relationships with peers, teachers and school staff are essential to children’s positive experience of school and their cognitive and emotional development.

The diagram below illustrates this shared vision and common goal.

How do we implement this? Whole School assemblies with a regular Health and Wellbeing focus Health Focus weeks Physical Activities – Gym, Daily mile, Outdoor Learning Staff training Outside agencies – Taster sessions: Rugby, Bikeability, Golf Individual Teachers – Creating a positive learning environment within their own classrooms focusing on wellbeing, resilience, personal responsibility, growth mind-sets, kindness, mindfulness and gratitude. Focus Health and wellbeing Lessons Jigsaw Health and Wellbeing

The Jigsaw Approach The Jigsaw approach has mindfulness underpinning it. The aim is to teach children information and skills to empower themselves how to learn and improve their life-chances later. It teaches them to observe their own thoughts and feelings, regulate them and make conscious decisions about their learning, behaviour and lives. The Six Puzzles – (Whole school working on the same puzzle at the same time) Being Me in My World Celebrating Difference Dreams and Goals Healthy Me Relationships Changing Me

Conclusion- Health and Wellbeing is an essential part of the curriculum and schools play a vital role in the promotion of positive mental and physical health in children. Good mental health in childhood provides a foundation for positive mental health and wellbeing, now and into the future.